4- Neurotransmitters and their Functions

Question 1

3 examples of small-molecule neurotransmitters

Answer 1

Acetylcholine
Dopamine
Serotonin

Question 2

What type of synapses does acetylcholine use?

Answer 2

Cholinergic synapses

Question 3

How does acetylcholine cause muscles to contract?

Answer 3

It changes the synapse shape to allow Na+ ions to enter, and causes depolarisation

Question 4

2 types of receptors cholinergic synapses use

Answer 4

Nicotinic receptors and muscarnic receptors

Question 5

What is an agonist?

Answer 5

A chemical that binds and activates a receptor

Question 6

What is an antagonist?

Answer 6

A chemical that binds and blocks a receptor

Question 7

What effects do raised acetylcholine levels in the brain have?

Answer 7

Positive effects on learning and memory

Question 8

What are destroyed in Alzheimer’s disease?

Answer 8

Neurons

Question 9

What do treatment drugs for Alzheimer’s disease increase?

Answer 9

Acetylcholine levels

Question 10

Enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine

Answer 10

Acetylcholinesterase

Question 11

Where is dopamine important?

Answer 11

In emotion and cognition

Question 12

3 pathways that use dopamine

Answer 12

Mesolimbic pathway
Mesocortical pathway
Nigrostriatal pathway

Question 13

What is the mesolimbic pathway involved in?

Answer 13

Drug abuse and addiction

Question 14

What does the mesolimbic pathway respond to?

Answer 14

Rewards and motivation

Question 15

Where is the nigrostriatal pathway implicated?

Answer 15

Parkinson’s disease

Question 16

Where do neurons project to in the nigrostriatal pathway?

Answer 16

Basal ganglia and thalamus

Question 17

Where is serotonin produced?

Answer 17

Raphe nuclei

Question 18

What 4 things is serotonin implicated in?

Answer 18

Mood and sleep
Body temperature
Appetite
Metabolism

Question 19

What does increasing levels of serotonin treat?

Answer 19

Depression and anxiety

Question 20

2 examples of neuropeptides

Answer 20

Oxytocin and opioid peptides

Question 21

What is oxytocin involved in?

Answer 21

Social bonding and interaction

Question 22

What is oxytocin also known as?

Answer 22

The love hormone

Question 23

How are opioid peptides distributed in the brain?

Answer 23

Widely

Question 24

What are the best understood opioid peptides?

Answer 24

Endorphins

Question 25

3 ways neuropeptides are different from small-molecule neurotransmitters

Answer 25

1. Slower onset but much longer duration response
2. Usually bind to metabotropic receptors
3. Modulate enzyme effects